e scribes were right!" confessed
Andrew.

Simon caught him up instantly. "Do you think that Jesus is trying to
destroy the faith of our nation?" he asked sharply. Andrew did not
answer.

"Why did we follow him in the first place, brother?" urged Simon. Still
Andrew said nothing--but he knew what Simon meant.

"Should we go back to our fishing, Andrew?"

"Oh, no!" answered Andrew, thinking of the hopeless years before Jesus
came. "That could never be."

"God has sent him to open a new day for us!" declared Simon firmly.

Jesus had been walking with Philip, but now he dropped back beside the
other disciples. The road lay between high rock walls. Their footsteps
rang with a hollow sound. The shadows were deep; no other travelers were
in sight. James said quietly, "We were just talking about what people
are saying, Master."

"What do they say about me?" asked Jesus. Simon knew that he sensed the
discouragement and doubt of his followers.

"The Pharisees say that you are trying to break down the Law of Moses,"
replied John hesitantly. There was a long silence.

"Some people think you are John the Baptizer risen from the dead," added
Andrew.

The Zealot said: "I hear some saying that you are Elijah come down from
heaven to prepare the way of the Messiah. That is what I thought at
first." A tiny stream of water, flowing over a rock, could be heard in
the silence that followed the Zealot's remark.

"What else do people say about me?" persisted Jesus.

"Many people think that you are a prophet. Master," answered Simon.

Jesus looked quietly at the men around him. When he spoke his words came
deliberately. His voice was strong and deep. "But, Simon, who do you
believe I am?"

To Simon, Jesus' question was like a powerful beam of light shining into
the darkest corners of his mind, driving away the last black shadows of
doubt. With a sigh he raised his head and caught sight of the brilliant
blue sky high above the dark valley that shut them in. The answer to
his Master's question was as clear as that sunny sky--why had he not
known it before? Simon's lips moved; then came his answer: "You are the
Christ, the Son of the living God."

[Illustration]

11. A SECRET IS TOLD

"You are the Christ--the Son of the living God!" Against the high rock
walls of the narrow ravine, the words echoed in the disciples' ears. For
many months not one of them had dared to say that he believed this was
true--but now Simon